POS1376 PARACETAMOL PRESCRIPTION PATTERNS IN LOW BACK PAIN AND OSTEOARTHRITIS IN REAL-WORLD GENERAL PRACTICE IN FRANCE
Authors: J. Cittee, P. Lemire, A. Annenkova, J. Y. Milon, S. Perrot
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Lower back pain (LBP) and osteoarthritis (OA) are the most frequent musculoskeletal disorders in the general population significantly impacting patients' quality of life. An adequate pain management is key. General practitioners (GPs) are the front-line decision-makers in the French primary care system. In France, paracetamol remains a first-line analgesic in LBP and OA, according to the national guidelines. Few data on the real-world paracetamol prescriptions in LBP and OA are available. <h3>Objectives</h3> This observational retrospective cohort study aimed to identify the paracetamol prescription patterns in LBP- and OA-related pain in real-world GP practice. <h3>Methods</h3> Prescription data from IQVIA's French EMR database with a representative panel of approximately 1,200 GPs. Data collection was systematic, non-interventional, reflecting the daily clinical practice. Patients aged more than 18 years old presenting with LBP- and OA- related pain and receiving a paracetamol prescription during a GP consultation over a 10-month period were included in the analyses. <h3>Results</h3> A total of 18,677 LBP and 8,882 OA patients were included. In more than 90% of these patients, the paracetamol prescriptions were not preceded by any other analgesic for the same diagnosis within the previous month. Paracetamol was mainly prescribed alone (57% LBP, 78% OA). The most frequent associations were NSAIDs and grade II analgesics. Treatment discontinuation at Month 1 was the most frequent event (67% LBP and 52% OA). In case of treatment restart, paracetamol was prescribed again in 57% LBP and 81% OA patients. At Month 3, 78% LBP and 71% OA patients discontinued treatment. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Paracetamol remains a pivotal analgesic and is prescribed first line in the majority of the patients in both indications. Paracetamol is the treatment of the given painful episode, with more than a half of patients discontinuing treatment at Month 1. <h3>References</h3> [1]Blyth FM et al., Am J Public Health. 2019 Jan;109(1):35–40. [2]Sprangers MA et al., J Clin Epidemiol. 2000 Sep;53(9):895–907. [3]Thakral M et al., J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2019 Apr 23;74(5):733–41. [4]Hunter DJ, Bierma-Zeinstra S. Osteoarthritis. The Lancet. 2019 Apr 27;393(10182):1745–59. [5]Goode AP et al., Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2013 Jan 11;15(2):305. [6]Gourmelen J et al, Ann Readapt Med Phys 2007;50:640-4. [7]Haute Autorite de Santé (HAS). Prise en charge du patient présentant une lombalgie commune. Published March 27, 2019. Accessed August 4, 2022. https://www.has-sante.fr/jcms/c_2961499/fr/prise-en-charge-du-patient-presentant-une-lombalgie-commune. [8]Haute Autorite de Santé (HAS) MG. Arthrose: le paracétamol en 1re intention lors des crises douloureuses. Published June 4, 2019. Accessed August 4, 2022. https://www.has-sante.fr/jcms/pprd_2974704/fr/arthrose-le-paracetamol-en-1re-intention-lors-des-crises-douloureuses. [9]Richard MJ et al. Pharmaceutical treatment of osteoarthritis. <i>Osteoarthritis and Cartilage</i>. Published online November 19, 2022. [10]Schreijenberg M et al., <i>Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol</i>. 2019;12(2):145-157. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Jacques CITTEE Consultant of: UPSA SAS, GSK, Pierre Lemire: None declared, Anna Annenkova: None declared, Jean-Yves Milon: None declared, Serge Perrot Speakers bureau: UPSA SAS, Sanofi, Consultant of: Sanofi, Menarini, Pfizer, Grunenthal.